Uzbekistan on the Global Investment Map: Outcomes of TIIF-2025 and New Prospects for Digital Cooperation

From June 9 to 12, Tashkent hosted the IV Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF), reaffirming Uzbekistan’s status as an emerging hub for capital, technology, and global ambition. This year’s spotlight extended beyond the energy sector to digital innovations, which are increasingly attracting investors, technology companies, and corporations from the Middle East, Asia, and Europe to Uzbekistan.

TIIF 2025 brought together more than 8,000 participants, including approximately 3,000 international guests representing 97 countries. A central component of the forum was the industry exhibition, which gathered 100 leading companies and organizations from across Uzbekistan. The forum concluded with the signing of investment contracts and trade agreements totaling over $30.5 billion, a figure that vividly illustrates the growing interest of the international business community in Uzbekistan.    

One of the forum’s prominent participants was IT Park Uzbekistan, a rapidly evolving ecosystem that is positioning itself as a global IT hub. The IT Park team conducted dozens of business meetings, presenting the export and investment potential of Uzbekistan’s IT sector, as well as elaborating on the legal frameworks and future opportunities associated with the forthcoming International Digital Technology Centre — Enterprise Uzbekistan. This initiative is poised to become a key driver for attracting export-oriented IT companies and investment to the country.   

From Interest to Action: Who is Coming to Uzbekistan and Why 

Within the framework of TIIF, Uzbekistan hosted a series of business forums, including the Uzbek-American, Uzbek-Slovak, and Uzbek-Bulgarian forums. Over the course of four days, IT Park established 114 targeted contacts with representatives of international companies, investment holdings, and public sector organizations that expressed a professional interest in potential cooperation. Initial negotiations and presentations were conducted with 53 organizations, and active steps toward the implementation of joint projects and programs have already commenced with 43 of them.   

Furthermore, 16 companies expressed concrete interest in IT Park, including Uplaw, a software development company, which made the immediate decision to establish operations in Uzbekistan. This example highlights the increasingly streamlined process of attracting IT companies and digital service exporters — from initial introduction to the launch of business activities. 

Interest in Startups and Investment Opportunities

Special emphasis was placed this year on the development of the startup ecosystem and innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Marco Polo Ventures, the Baltic-Central Asian Association for Economic Development, and three additional companies expressed their intention to invest in Uzbek startups showcased on the StartupBase platform. 

Enterprise Uzbekistan: A Catalyst for Attracting IT Companies and Expanding Exports

The forum also featured panel discussions dedicated to the future of Enterprise Uzbekistan. In particular, one session focused on the International Digital Technology Centre — Enterprise Uzbekistan, where participants discussed the conditions and instruments that position Uzbekistan as a competitive and attractive destination for global IT companies. 

Abdulakhad Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan, took part in the discussion, emphasizing that the launch of Enterprise Uzbekistan is a new government-led initiative specifically designed to attract foreign investment and promote IT exports, unlocking a new chapter in the country’s efforts to draw export-oriented IT companies and investment. 

Key Meetings: From Visa to MBK Holding

The forum also provided an essential platform for strategic negotiations with leading international corporations. Of particular importance were discussions with Visa (USA) regarding the potential development of a joint acceleration program for fintech startups, as well as the integration of Visa payment solutions to facilitate transactions for local freelancers. 

Equally noteworthy were meetings with McKinsey, Airbus, Oracle, 5D MENA, Uptime Institute and representatives of Qatar’s royal family (MBK Holding). MBK Holding expressed interest in investing in Uzbek startups and engaging IT specialists from Uzbekistan.   

Institutional partnerships were also actively pursued, with meetings held with ministers from Oman and Poland, representatives from Japan (JBIC), Malaysia (MIMOS, Cocwonder Digital Engineering Sdn Bhd), as well as Bulgaria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, China, and the Embassy of Canada. 

IT Park Members at TIIF 2025

IT Park members played an active role in the forum. Companies such as Uzum, Yandex, BRB-tech, and TBC (Payme) were showcased at the exhibition stands, while Zoodtech, EPAM, and Data Volt participated as part of visiting delegations.

Throughout the forum, negotiations were held with representatives from India, the UAE, the United Kingdom, and Kazakhstan, focusing on prospective partnerships in fintech, cloud technologies, e-commerce, and IT service outsourcing.

Special attention was given to attracting direct and venture capital investments into Uzbekistan’s IT sector. Members of IT Park Uzbekistan presented their projects to potential investors, explored opportunities for participation in funding rounds, and discussed potential capital placements within local digital ecosystems.

The Next Step: Implementation of Agreements

IT Park Uzbekistan will continue to work closely with interested companies, further develop proposals, and facilitate the launch of new projects in collaboration with international partners. The primary objective in the near term is to ensure that the agreements reached during the forum are translated into concrete strategic actions and mutually beneficial projects.